Game



Patented Dec. 9, 1941 ,"UNITED STATES PAT ENT OFFICE GAME Frank M. Clement, Chicago, 111.

Application June 20, 1940, Serial No. 341,526

4 Claims.

My invention relates to the game of quoits or horseshoes, and one purpose of the invention is to provide means to replace the usual clay padding now employed at the stake, which serves as a goal, and to substitute a more cleanly material which. will prevent the quoits or shoes from becoming smeared with clay, and will eliminate flying dust and mud when the shoe lands at the stake. Another object is to provide a padding strong enough to withstand hard usage, particularly such as that experienced by game equipment used by the general public, as in parks and other places of amusement. A further object is to provide an improved surface, affording a nonskidding effect when the shoes or quoits land thereon so as to prevent them from bouncing or sliding away from scoring position. Other objects and advantages of the invention are par-' ticularly pointed out in the following specification. The invention comprises certain features and elements of construction in combination, as herein shown and described and as indicated by the claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the box or platform together with the stake constituting the goal post, showing a horseshoe in scoring position at the stake, and including a protecting shield at the upper end of the latter but omitting the chain padding material which is a feature of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken fore and aft through the platform and stake, and showing one unit of the interlaced chain padding with the links extending into the vertical plane of the section.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the pan or platform member with the chain padding thereon, and including a horseshoe resting on the padding.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary end view of a securing strip and some of the chain links attached thereto.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side view of the securing strip showing a few links attached thereto, and indicating how the strip is riveted to the platform or pan.

The game of quoits is played either with specially formed rings, usually of steel, or with ordinary horseshoes or similarly shaped elements, also of steel. These playing pieces are tossed or thrown from "a considerable distance toward a goal in the form of a post or stake, with the object of having them fall as close as possible to the stake, preferably encircling it for the highest scores. When the game is played outdoors, the stake is usually driven into the ground, and where a regular playing court is provided, the earth may be in the nature of a fairly hard clay;

butin either case the impact of the steel quoits or horseshoes rapidly breaks up the surface around the stake, raising considerable dust, and

covering the quoits or horseshoes with dust, or mud if the ground is moist. The present invention provides improved equipment for such a game, including a plate or pan I, preferably of metal, such as steel, provided with marginal flanges 2, 3, 4 and 5. The flange 5 at theside of the plate facing the player, is preferably a little lower than the other flanges, and the adjoining portions of flanges 3 and 4 are tapered at 6, as shown in Fig. 1. This diminishes the chance that the forward flange 5 or the corner portions at 6, 6, will be hit directly by a quoit or horseshoe during the progress of the game. The stake or goal post 3| ispositioned at the center of the plateand secured rigidly by any suitable means, as for example, by welding it thereto, as indicated at II in Fig. 2. Preferably, a short section of rubber hose or tubing II is fitted over the upper end of the stake to protect it and the shoes or quoits from injury. If desired, the stake may be set so as to lean slightly toward the forward side of the plate, that is, toward the flange 5 which faces the player so that the shoes or quoits striking the stake will tend to be deflected downwardly toward the platform instead of rebounding to a greater distance.

To receive the impact of the horseshoe or quoits as they are thrown toward the stake 3|, the entire upper surface of the plate I is covered with a steel padding preferably composed of short sections of chain anchored to the plate, but with several links extending from the point of anchorage so that they may lie in a miscellaneous ar-v rangement or mass overlapping each other more or less, and covering the plate surface. As shown, each section of chain includes an anchored link I with two links 8 and 9 engaged therewith and connected respectively to additional links l8 and I9. Fig. 5 shows only one link, l8, and one link, l9, but Fig. 2 indicates two additional connected links on each branch of the chain, extending from the anchored link 1. I find that about five links in each branch are enough to provide a sufiiciently flexible and extensive padding, which is indicated generally by the numeral [2, in Fig. 3. The anchored links I may be secured to the plate in any convenient manner, and Figs. 2, 3 and 5 indicate a bent or corrugated strip of metal [5 secured by rivets to the upper surface of the plate I and thus forming a series of loops by which the links 1 are loosely held. It will be understood that a plurality of these strips [5 will be arranged preferably parallel, and side-byside, over the entire surface of the plate I, and that the short lengths of chain extending from them will overlie each other and overhang the flanges 2, 3, 4 and 5 so as to receive the impact of shoes or quoitsthrowntowardthe.goal post 3f.

When the game is played accordingto standardregulations, the quoit or horseshoe is thrown toward the stake from a distance of about forty feet, traveling through the air and landing with I I considerable force, and with a tendency to skid 1'5F such changes in construction and arrangement or slide; but when a chain padding of'the. character just described is employed, the Iinksontlie' upper surface of the padding; are-free'tormovel.

in any direction and readily accommodate them,-

selves to the shoe as it arrives, so thatfiiftends to beeome slightly: embedded: in: the padding; as; shownzinzfig, 3,,without sliding orskidding after itJandss, The sudden impact-of theshoeagainst:

direct or solid;blow whenthe shoes or'quoits are pitched, and: thus;.avoids: crystallization v and consequent breakage of theplate andnof: theqnoitsthemselvea. And while :askillfully'thrown' horseshoe? tends: torlandiflatlm, and without: slidin u as. indicated; in Fig:.. 3, thereare many in;-:

stances inwhich thesshoes strikethe mat-2i ledge wise or -in;other;-positions-;solthatvthey'en agethe; linkmfrictionally; which serves automatically; to

polish and smooth the edges of the shoes, thereby eliminating the danger of steel slivers forming thereon and cutting the hands of the players.

Thus it will be seen that I have devised improved equipment for the game of quoits or horseshoes, particularly well adapted to use in public parks and other places of amusement, where the parts are subjected to severe service, and that this equipment not only improves the cleanliness ofv the. gameby eliminating dust and mud,but alsotends tocontribute' toaimore satisfa-ctory action of the playing pieces in response tothe skill of the players. I reserve the right to use any other suitable material, and to make ofithepartsas properly fall within the spirit and scope of'my invention; as indicated by the claims.

' Irela'irrr;

l. A goal plate for a game of horeshoes or the like'comprising a base overlaid with a loosely disposed], mass of: metallic: chain; links some. of which: are-interlinked: with each: othena'nd; someoix which: arerattached: to; the :base;

2;. A-goa-liplatefor a1gamenfzhorseshoexorthet like comprising, a.-= base: overlaid with a: maSsof: short. lengths: of metallictchaim each:attached.; by; oneslink: twthe? base,:;the:ends.ofrsaidalengthsabeaing; unattached: to the base andi extending miscellaneous: arrangement: thereoveit'.

3i A goakplateforraizgame ofihorseshoes or. the: like 2 comprising; a metallic: base. having upstands. ingmairginal: flanges and: overlaidi with r a loosely disposed-.massiof metallic: chaiirulinkszwithi some: of: said links: overhangmgt and;v covering" said;

flanges: 1 w a 1 4.; A: goal) plateiforrazgamenfihorseshoesioit the:

like; com prising: as metallimbase :aandi atplurality of:

relatively, short: lengths of: each attaclrecli by; one.- 1ink:to.the1 base,- said chains overlyingthe; areal ofithe: base: andtroyerlapping'. eachother; thuss forming a; metallic; cushion e to receivethe: shoessagthey arespitchedttowardthei goal.

FRANK M. CLEMENT; 

